Chapter Text
After the fall, Sherlock went around the world, taking down Moriarty's network.
Merely months before he was ment to return home, he was kidnapped by people in Moriarty's network.
He was kept in a small cage for years, being used, abused, and tortured.
Three years after he was ment to return home he escaped, killing what what left of Moriarty's network and he was finally able to make it back to 221b Baker St.
***
John didn’t know what to do. One second, he was sitting in the living room with Mariana and Archie, talking about how therapy was going, and then the next second he held the sobbed form of his friend Sherlock. The same Sherlock who'd been dead for five years..
Sherlock was bloody and bruised and... oh god, that arm looked dislocated. He pulled Sherlock quickly inside.
"John, who was- oh my god!" Mariana said, shocked at the sight and state of Sherlock.
She quickly moved, giving John room to lay Sherlock's weak frame down on the couch.
"I- i- I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Sherlock sobbed. He'd promised himself he'd stay composed for this, but that all when out the window when he saw John. "I- i had- I had to protect you!"
"Shh, shh, mate. It's okay." John said his voice shaking. "Mariana, call the ambulance. Say we have a severely dehydrated and malnourished man with a dislocated left shoulder, cuts to the former, the- um- the forehead, a-and cheek."
Mariana nodded, tears silently streaming down her cheeks as she called 999.
John continued to assess Sherlock, checking over his arms and legs. "Possible fractures to the right ulna and the left fibula." John said, trying to hide the shake I'm his voice as Mariana repeat what he said to the responder.
John moved to check Sherlock for and cracked or fractured ribs, but Sherlock flinched away.
John froze. He'd only seen that reaction in victims of sexual assault.
John looked down at Sherlock.
Sherlock's expression only confirmed it further.
He was scared for Sherlock. Angry at Sherlock for making him think he jumped. But mostly, he was happy to have Sherlock back after five years.
***
Once the paramedics arrived, Sherlock was rushed to hospital. He was given IV fluids and antibiotics, since it was clear that Sherlock had a few infections. John had joined him in the ambulance. He needed to know Sherlock was going to be okay.
"It’s going to be okay, Sherlock." John said softly, running a hand through Sherlock’s hair. They’d made it to the hospital. Sherlock was rushed to the ICU to assess his condition. He had several fractures in his arms and legs, a dislocated shoulder, two 1 inch deep cuts to his cheek and forearm and o half an 8nd deep on his forehead. Further examinations also revealed extensive damage to his anal and vaginal openings, along with high doses of Benzodiazepine in his system. Sherlock had been abused, tortured and raped for years. YEARS! John felt terrible. He should have been there. He should have protected Sherlock. He'd failed him.
***
Sherlock hid under the hospital blanket. He couldn't stand the look he'd seen in John and Mariana's eyes. The sadness, the pity, he didn't deserve it. He killed people. Many people.
His hands were stained with the blood of Moriarty's network. He was dirty.
John sat beside Sherlock's bed in an uncomfortable hospital chair. Mariana had gone to get them all coffee. They were going to need it. The doctor said Sherlock would have to stay in hospital for at least two days, till they made sure he was hydrated and healing.
"I'm... I'm glad you're alive, mate." John said softly, holding in a sob. "When I saw you jump I... I felt a part of myself die. I thought I'd lost you..."
Sherlock didn't reply.
"You're rooms still the same." John added trying to smile. "Mariana tried to motivate me to clean in out but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Guess it worked out in the end, hu?"
Sherlock couldn’t bring himself to speak. His jaw felt glued shut.
Hw wanted to he held. He wanted to feel John hold him till he felt like himself again.
“How is he?” Mariana said softly, returning with coffee for her and John, and Sherlock. “I got one for Sherlock too. I didn’t know if he’d want one.”
“He hasn’t spoken since getting here.” John sighed, taking the coffee. “ I don’t think he’s even awake.”
Sherlock could hear what they were saying. He knew he should reply, tell them he was okay.
But he wasn’t okay. He could still feel their hands on him. Still feel the way he was violated.
“John… Mariana…” Sherlock mumbled, turning to face him and Mariana. When he looked at them it made him want to cry again.
“Sherlock…” Mariana spoke softly. “What happed to you?”
“Please tell us, Sherlock.” John begged. “We need to know.”
Sherlock hesitated before he spoke. “Moriarty…” Sherlock mumbled. “I… I had to protect you two. I couldn’t let his network hurt you both… they wanted to kill you two...”
John and Mariana sheared a concern look.
“Sherlock, mate...” John said softly. “What happened to you?”
“I was going to return home...” Sherlock choked. “I thought I'd taken the all down... but.. I was wrong...”
“They took me. They- they kept me in a cage.” Sherlock started to sob. “I... I was their toy f- for three years... I only escaped a month ago...”
John took a hesitant step towards Sherlock. Sherlock allowed John to hold him, soon after also being enveloped in Mariana's arms too.
Sherlock sobbed into John and Mariana. He was so happy to be home. He never wanted to leave again. "I'm sorry..." Sherlock sobbed. "I'm so, so sorry... I didn't want you two to get hurt. I just wanted you two to be safe."
"It's okay, Sherlock..." John said softly. "It's okay. You're safe now. We're here. We're here. No one can hurt you now."